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Patara Beach:
In the heart of Lycia Patara is best known
for its beach, eighteen kilometers of
soft white sand, backed by majestic dunes
and in recent years the winner of a "best
beach in the world" survey in the
Sunday Times.
Evidence of its former glories as the
principal port for Lycia and an important
Roman town can be seen at the extensive
site, still not fully excavated.
Here too stood the Hellenistic oracle
of Apollo , thought to rival that at Delphi
and a further claim of Patara's fame is
as the birthplace of the fourth century
St. Nicolas , the original Santa Claus.
Patara beach should not be missed with
its gorgeous landscape and great swimming.
It is a national park and home to many
birds, also the breeding ground of the
endangered Loggerhead turtle.
The beach is an 18 kilometer-long strip
of sand bordered on its ends by mountains
and along its length by sand dunes and
the large marshy area which once was the
celebrated port of Patara. |